OCEANSIDE  Authorities investigating a crash that killed three Palomar students in Oceanside last week are hoping to talk to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

Three people were killed and five were injured in the single-car crash Thursday on state Route 78 near College Boulevard. All eight victims were crammed into a Honda Prelude when it flew off the freeway shortly before 11 p.m. and slammed into a power pole. The impact sheared the pole in half.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, Officer Gil Ochoa said Monday. He said authorities don’t believe alcohol or drugs played a role, and it’s not yet known whether the number of people packed into the two-door coupe was a factor.

The students, all from Japan, were part of Palomar’s international student program and were new to the school.

The 19-year-old driver was identified Monday by the Medical Examiner’s Office as Minoru Yamamoto. Names of the other two students who died were not yet released.

The survivors have given limited statements to investigators, due to a language barrier and their need for medical treatment after the crash, Ochoa said.

The person who called 911 and reported the crash left a non-working phone number with dispatchers, and officers haven’t been able to reach the caller.

Ochoa said the agency is asking for people who saw the crash or have pertinent information about it to come forward. “We don’t have any witnesses,” Ochoa said.

Witnesses or tipsters with information about the crash can call the CHP Oceanside office at (760) 757-1675.